Don't come in. Don't come in. >> Come to us. >> I will shoot. I will [ __ ] shoot. >> He's got A GUN. >> HE'S GOT a gun. >> There's kids in there. >> He's got a gun. He's got a gun. He's got a gun. There's kids in the back drop. There's kids in the back drop. >> GET THOSE KIDS OUT. >> CLOSE THE DOOR. CLOSE THE DOOR. >> IN THE EARLY MORNING on the 21st of February, 2025, at approximately 3:45 a.m., the Anchorage, Alaska Police Department received a 911 call about a possible stolen vehicle in a hotel parking lot. >> I have a vehicle parked on one of my properties and it looks stolen. The column's busted out and everything. >> Is there anybody in it? >> Um, I seen two gentlemen walk away from it and go into the hotel. >> They went into the hotel? >> Like 3 minutes ago. >> Okay. So, let's see here. Um, it does look like officers are looking to talk to it. Just bear with me here. >> The vehicle in question had eluded police earlier that evening and the owner had an active warrant for his arrest. Officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arriving at the hotel, made their way to the suspect's room. As they arrived, an adult male emerged whispering to officers and alerting them to the situation inside. >> by the kids. Right up here on the first floor. >> What does he have? What kind of weapons? >> I'm going to need a 44. >> Our second suspect that is in the room is armed with a handgun. >> He's holding a >> No, it's true. Kids are free to go. Sounds like this might be a possible uh hostage. >> Don't come in. Don't come in. >> Come to us. >> I will shoot. I will [ __ ] shoot. >> He's got a gun. >> He's got a gun. >> There's kids in there. >> He's got a gun. He's got a gun. He's got a gun. There's kids in the backdrop. There's kids in the backdrop. >> GET THOSE KIDS OUT. [laughter] >> ALL RIGHT. HE JUST SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT. We have saw the gun. He's holding the kids hostage as well as the adult female. >> There's no safe backdrop. There's too many kids. >> The suspect is 41 year old Pouya Allahyari and officers have learned that he is armed with a 9 mm handgun and is holding five people including four children hostage in the room. They immediately establish a perimeter and request SWAT and crisis negotiation teams. Here officers discuss the situation over the radio. >> 22 just for more context on Pouya. Yesterday Emery, the male that came out of the room, was helping unload a U-Haul and while doing so brushed against Pouya. Pouya pulled his gun out and fired a shot right by his head. That was yesterday. >> Copy that. >> 16 X 23 2020 I'm just going to put a exterior drone up to see if I can get anything from outside looking through the window. >> Yo, for radio we're breaching the door. >> As the SWAT team is discussing their plan of action, the situation takes an immediate violent turn and officers are forced into action. >> Now it's it's all the one kitty corner. >> I mean the one on the right on the right side of the hall is tucked in there. >> From what I was told everybody should be evacuated. >> I don't know if we hit that door he's going to start shooting. >> Crisis. Crisis. Crisis. >> I'm right behind you. I'm on your left. >> Go. Breach. >> Breach. Breach. Breach. >> He's putting rounds through the door. >> Breach. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> So one round through the >> I know. >> I'm breaking the door. >> Here officers radio traffic expresses the gravity of the situation and need for immediate action. >> So, one round through the door. >> He has a gun to her head right now. >> Yep, we're working on a breach. >> He has a gun to her head in the room right now. >> 23D shooting through the door. The door is barricaded. We're having trouble getting in. He's fired like a few shots through the door. >> In response to the gunshots, officers paused their entry efforts and crisis negotiators were able to make contact with Alaloua. >> Uh I'm at the Hampton Hotel and I got five hostages. Y'all trying to make it seem like I'm doped out, which I should feel like, but you know, I really know because the side of me that got videos and and pictures of you guys You guys are [ __ ] All right. Are you guys are coming in here knowing damn well there's a hostage situation and I got a gun. And you guys still coming trying to run through the the door in the hotel room. >> Okay. What? We're not saying that you're you're doped out. >> No, you guys are setting me up. No, you guys just set up. >> Okay, Powie. I want to I want to let you know nobody is coming in right now. Right now our biggest focus is trying to make sure that you're safe, that auntie safe, and that the kiddos are safe. Powie, are you still there? Powie, can you hear me? Powie, do you guys need anything? >> After 5 hours and multiple de-escalation attempts, officers observed Po Ielua becoming physically abusive toward the female hostage and holding a gun to her head. Based on these observations, they made the decision to enter the room to protect the lives of those inside. >> Got a breach. Got a breach. GOT A BREACH. >> GOT A BREACH. >> GOT A BREACH. >> GOT A BREACH. >> TWO HOLES. YOU GOT TWO HOLES. >> BACK UP. BACK UP. BACK UP. BACK UP. >> THERE'S AN OBJECT IN THERE. >> WE GOT IT. WE GOT >> DROP THE GUN. DROP THE GUN. DON'T DO IT. DON'T DO IT. GOT IT. I GOT THE GUN. I GOT THE GUN. I GOT THE GUN. YOU'RE GOOD. THROW YOUR WEAPON AWAY. WE'RE GOOD. SUSPECT DOWN. >> I'LL HOLD ON HIM. You check yourself. >> Po Ielua was shot by SWAT officers and pronounced dead on the scene. All hostages were safely removed from the room and taken to a nearby hospital to receive medical attention. Toxicology reports revealed Ielua had methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death. Like so many of the cases we see on Justice in America, Po Ielua had a lengthy violent criminal history spanning 12 years, including assault and attempted murder. And just 2 months earlier, he was arrested for vehicle theft, felon in possession of a firearm and fentanyl possession. We must ask ourselves hard questions about how our justice system handles repeat violent offenders. Policies that prioritize release over public safety have real consequences for us all. We share our streets, hotels, and public spaces with people the courts know are dangerous. And because of it, ordinary people in ordinary places can find themselves face-to-face with that reality. Thank you for watching this episode of Justice in America. Stay safe.